Brazilian singer Daniela Mercury will open the annual Festas do Mar festival tonight in the coastal town of Cascais, Portugal, launching eleven days of free live concerts along Cascais Bay.
The festival runs from Thursday, August 20 through Sunday, August 30, transforming the waterfront into one of Portugal's premier free summer cultural events. Cascais hosts this year's edition during its tenure as the European Capital of Democracy.
Opening night lineup and headliner return
The opening night lineup features singer Carolina Quintas, musician Carlão, and headliner Daniela Mercury closing the stage. Mercury returns to the Cascais event sixteen years after her last performance at the festival.
The festival brings together live music, local gastronomy, regional handicrafts, and coastal traditions along the Atlantic shoreline. Cascais, located on the Portuguese Riviera west of Lisbon, celebrates the event alongside its designation as the European Capital of Democracy for 2026.
Full concert schedule and featured artists
The Festas do Mar program spans eight nights of concerts with more than 30 individual performances scheduled across the festival stages. The event showcases a mixture of established Portuguese acts and rising musical talents.
Among the most anticipated acts on the bill are Os Quatro e Meia, Diogo Piçarra, Dillaz, Matias Damásio, and David Fonseca. The lineup also features Marisa Liz, Miguel Gameiro and Pólo Norte, Fingertips, Luís Trigacheiro, João Pedro Pais, and Stewart Sukuma, alongside opening night performer Carlão.
Festival grounds and resident privileges
Event activities extend across central Cascais between the historic Citadel and the Visconde da Luz Garden. Visitors can explore food stalls, craft exhibits, and family entertainment tailored for children and younger audiences.
Holders of the Viver Cascais Card, reserved for municipality residents, local workers, and students, receive access to a dedicated exclusive area located beside the main Cascais Stage.
Closing procession and bay fireworks
The festival concludes on Sunday, August 30, with one of its most historic traditions, the Procession in honor of Our Lady of Navigators. The maritime religious ceremony pays tribute to the patron saint of sailors and local seafaring heritage.
Following the religious procession, musical performances continue with Murta and DJ Kamala before the Cascais Symphony Orchestra takes the main stage. The festival officially closes with a fireworks display over Cascais Bay.
Other Portuguese summer festival news
In related festival news across Portugal, an English band displayed a message criticizing the Chega political party during their performance at the CA Vilar de Mouros festival in northern Portugal. The political statement prompted a swift response from Chega party leader André Ventura.
The long-running Vilar de Mouros festival launched its latest edition on Tuesday, expanding its schedule for the first time to span five consecutive days of live music.
